The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-06-23
LIVING DUMMIES.
WeIl-Formed and Graceful Women Who
Pose for Cloak and Dress-Makers.

Pose for Cloak and Dress-Makers.
"You must not use the term 'employe'
m speaking of any young lady who
permits the use of her figure for the
display of our cloaks and dresses. They
are artists, and theirs is profession
and not an employment.
The young gentleman who so spoke
was juniorApartner in great Broad
| way cloak and suit house which MAIN
| ;ains its own factory and sells goods
only at wholesale. He was engrossed
in the hazardous and difficult duty of
trying to persuade III out of 120 young
women who had responded to the fol-
lowing advertisement that they did not
| ill the bill:
| young ladies wanted as figures,
| Il 36 and 3S busts, for suits and cloaks. Address
-, No. = Broadway.
There is no difficulty" he continued,
sin finding any number of young
women with thirty-six or thirty-eight-
inch busts, or any other normal measure-
ments. The figure is easily found. but
the figure is not an artistic. In addition
to the figure, which must be beautiful
and perfect, we require grace, style
and action. A lady who possesses all
these requirements is worth her weight
in gold. She is of more value to us
than ten statesmen"
Within very few years living figures
have come to be regarded as essential
in nearly all the branches of the dry
goods trade, but especially in the cloak
and suit line. All the wholesale houses
employ them, they are to be found in
many departments of the great retail
establishments, and no factory now at
tempts to pattern its styles from dunn
mics. Many of the young women who
pose as figures have incomes which en-
able them to live and dress in the most
expensive style.
| "Hard to find perfect iguresp' unused
the junior partner. "WellI should say
so. Exactly sixty-three women called
| this morning to fill one vacancy for a
| No. 36 bust, which is considered the
correct measurement for lady of
medium build. Some Of them ran as
high as 46, and others, padding ex-
cluded, ran down to No. 30.''
| '.How do your figures range in meas
lrementp"
From No. 80 to No. AZ. Any bust
below No. 32represents an undeveloped
girl, and any higher than No. ~ is con-
sidered too stout to be stylish. Of course,
we can fit any bust or height, no matter
how large or small, but we manufacture
for the wholesale trade, and it does not
pay us to manufacture large line Of
goods for which there is no general de-
mand. Single special orders are usually
filed by retailers or modistes at extra
expense.
"But you have stated that there is no
difficulty in securing the desired size?'
"The size is but one and the least inn
portant essential. Buyers-even whole
! sale buyers-have an eye for grace
, and beauty. They will purchase bill
of goods for the display of a garment
on woman with fine action, which
they would not touch when shown on a
woman with exactly the same figure,
but who is deficient in grace and move
| ment. !"
!, "How many ladies act as figures II
! stores and warehouses;"
r II should say there are over foul
, hundred, and the money paid for theil
{ services probably exceeds $500,000 9
] year.
"Do these figures perform any othel
, duties than those indicatedp'
e Those who are extremely high
{ toned would not consent to perform
any other duties. There are some girls
J who are more business-like and matter
| of-fact; and they act as sales-ladies
J in their leisure moments. This rule
| applies only, however, to the retail
. houses
e "How many figures does a single
/ house employ?"
+ Twelve well-assorted figures viii
' make pretty complete set. In the
It most popular sizes, ranging from No
a 35 to No. SO. double sets of figures ar
' usually employed in the larger estab
q lishments. When there is double Sc
d of the same numbered bust one of tn,
8 models is usually that of a woman o
t low stature, and the other is taller
+ Some houses that do a very heavy bust
g ness and have an extremely stylisl
: custom maintain quadruple sets o
o figures. "
|. During this conversation, which wa
. frequently interrupted by questions. tn
!, beautiful living figures, who have at
/. tanned perfection In motion and posing
e moved gracefully around the large sales
d room, evidently fully conscious of thei
i accomplishments y journal.
!. Exempt From Execution.
u Lawyer Ito Uncle Rastus. who is i